26 December, 2005

Kwanzaa

Oh my. I've gone and done a silly thing.

This weekend, in ignorance, I was attempting to defend Kwanzaa to one or more of my relatives, who claimed it was made-up bullshit. I maintained that it must be some kind of import, some sort of re-invigoration of old traditions. I promised to look it up and verify my claims.

I just looked Kwanzaa up. It was invented in 1966 by Ron Karenga, convicted felon, Marxist, college professor, and more. I should probably do more research before I stick my foot in it, but it seems clear:

Kwanzaa is a made-up, bullshit holiday.

Wikipedia states: "Kwanzaa was founded by black nationalist Ron Karenga, and first celebrated from December 26, 1966 to January 1, 1967. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures. Karenga has since further developed his vision and hosts the "Official Kwanzaa Web Site"

A little further
research: "On December 24, 1971, the New York Times ran one of the first of many articles on a new holiday designed to foster unity among African Americans. The holiday, called Kwanzaa, was applauded by a certain sixteen-year-old minister who explained that the feast would perform the valuable service of "de-whitizing" Christmas. The minister was a nobody at the time but he would later go on to become perhaps the premier race-baiter of the twentieth century. His name was Al Sharpton and he would later spawn the Tawana Brawley hoax and then incite anti-Jewish tensions in a 1995 incident that ended with the arson deaths of seven people.

Great minds think alike. The inventor of the holiday was one of the few black "leaders" in America even worse than Sharpton. But there was no mention in the Times article of this man or of the fact that at that very moment he was sitting in a California prison. And there was no mention of the curious fact that this purported benefactor of the black people had founded an organization that in its short history tortured and murdered blacks in ways of which the Ku Klux Klan could only fantasize."

Without a doubt, I have a lot of reading to do. I'm struck by several questions at the outset, though. Isn't fabricating a holiday for a historically ostracized, outcast segment of society simply divisive? Rather than empower, doesn't such a tactic further the divide between people? Can anyone really take seriously a holiday that was created, rather than shrouded in the fog of tradition? I'd love to know what anyone else thinks. This is one of those topics that will fascinate me for months now - just what I didn't need as I try to start studying for the bar again.

Comments:
Baby Jesus is born in a stable (conceived immaculately no less!), the angels tell the shepherds about it, and the wise men, who followed a star, bring gifts... geez... isn't that some kind of foul and fetid bull-shit too??? I mean, think about how many people in the world celebrate Christmas in comparison to how many people celebrate that little pellet of rodent poop called Kwanza. There's something to really consider.

People will believe any crap that's flung at them!

Yech!!!

I will now quote from on of my fAAAAvorite skits on French and Saunders;

from the HIlarious COLD TURKEY, aka Cold Mountain, parody...

Nicole Kidman- What kinda shit is this?

Renée Zellweger- Well I don't rightly know Mrs. Booby Doo, but I have a sneakin' suspicion that it's bull-shit, and we're in it right up to here here, THICK up to here!
 
Krapzaa is a ridiculous holiday. I'm surprised you defended it too. Sometimes you're such a bleeding heart.
 
I think it highly apposite to point out here that I've dropped my defense of this "festival of otherness." Spread the word, let it be known far and wide, humkay?
 
Ergs, I am in no way "challenging the historicity of the birth of a man named Jesus." Both you and Gazoo seem to have misunderstood what I said.

I was merely pointing out the absurd, bull-shit story of angels announcing Christ's VIRGIN birth to shepherds, and new stars being followed by "Wise Men", blah, blah... and how so many more people plod through that big pile of shit than the other... I also think that our RYL seems to be devoting too much thought to this newer and smaller piece of turd... It's all shit, really. Isn't it?
 
My comment is aimed only at Rubicund.
 
ow woh woh...
 
Hmm, too much thought? I merely scribbled a passing comment, and have been pleased at the reponses so far. I wonder if anyone who has read has taken a contrary view...
 
I think we should just celebrate "Festivus for the rest of us" :)
 
Kwanzaa is simply another example of the deep-seated and well-hidden hatred and jealousy that the black race carries for all of their white countrymen. The white man came from Europe and created the greatest country in the world (albeit at the expense of many, many others) and they have resigned themselves to holding their hands out from the neighborhoods they shoot up and rob while screaming about the unfairness of it all. I'm telling all of you right now - go find a girl of a different race, have a few mixbreed children, and eventually we can all be the same color. Maybe our grandchildren can forget about race and hate each other based on true merit - the fact that most of us are selfish, self-centered, self-righteous assholes!!!
 
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